New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-11
PRICE THREE CENTS
COAL MEN STILL DEFIANT.
THE COMPANIES SMILING AT A FAMINE

w '''''''"> "ht rhiCE SHOULD BE RAISED-s
ALI. QUIET AT wEEHAwKRN
The expected trouble among the striking eosl
handlers at Weehawken did not occur yesterday.
Chief of Police Kelly had sworn in fifteen special
policemen and had established @ method of ready
communication with Sheriff Hentze in case further
assistance should be needed. The strikers as usual
stood aboat the corners and talked of their pros.
poets OF victory. They are as confident as ever
and say that unless the companies yield In Q few
davs they will play their trump card and force
them to the wall. They say they will make No
forcible effort to prevent new men from taking the
places of strikers. but If moral suaslon fails the
knights of Labor will call out the miners and then
the companies will be forced to yield III order to
keep their cOntracta
The only coal that is being handled at the
Weehawken docks is that supplied to the
New-York Steam Company and sugar
refinery in Brooklyn. The Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company has contract
With these two concerns and is being
forced to live up to it. because when the Steam
Company had strike on Its hands somemOnths ago
the Canal Company insisted that it must take tho
daily supply of coal contracted for The coal is
being handled by men sent from New-York aud enl-
ployed by the companies receiving it. The tug.
boats and steamboats, which use the Weehawken
docks for cOallng station have not suffered much
inconvenience thus far. Some ckbuilders In the
EMPLOY Of Ross & Sandford unintentionaly caused
something of cOmmOtIon among the men whO arc
handling the Steam Companys coal. They were
sent up in tug to begin WORK a new trestle
near the West Shore Ferry. The temporary coal
trImmers thought they were bellgerent strikers
and fed from the dock. One of them jumped
overheard and was with difficulty tished out
1t is estimated that there are now between
100000 and 300 900 of hard coal at the differ
ent coal depots between Perth Amboy and Wee
hawken. This includes the supply at Elizabeth
port. Port johnson, Communpaw, jersey Ci,y and
Hoboken, and it accumulated last week. This is
about the usual weekly supply needed for New-YOrk
and its vicinity andeyen if the strike should comeo
an end at once it will probably be necessary to EN-.
pIoy extra men to get the accImuatlODs out OF tho
way. There is a smaller supply at the Erie docks
III jersey City han at the other places for the rca-
son that large number of carloads have been re-
shipped to places along the road to supply the local
demand.
Of the difficulties One OF two conferences
have been beld between the KnighIs Of La
5or and representatives of the companies,
1t is confidently expected By the strikers that the
companies will yield before another week has
passed and that il will not be necessary to cause
an extension of the strike TO the mines On ne
other hand, II is just confidently expected by the
companies that tile men cannot hold out much
longer but will be obliged by necessity to come to
terms. -
he usual quiet that has characterized Port
Johnson last week prevailed yesterday: An air
of ldleness was apparent everywhere, and the only
workmen TO be seen near the docks were the men
who have been detailed by the strikers to guard
tine company's property or see that new hands are
not put to work.
The effects of the strike are rot felt so much in
Jersey City as elsewhere, as several OF the larger
dealers have tracks running into their yards and
they are thereby enabled to get their supplies
without the aid of the handlers. Neyert neless.
they are prepared to make hay while the sun
shines and put up the price OF coal On the plea OK
scarcity None Of the manufacturing establish
ments IN the city has been obliged 10 close YET buo
It Is not known how much longer they can hold
our.
Officers of tho leading anthracite coal companies
said yesterday that the published statements about
the danger OF coal famine III this city we're with
on! substantial foundatlon lucy aIgera in tine the
opinion that the exaggerated statements hah Deen
lnstIgated either by the striking coaibandlers or
by retail dealers Tue purpose III either case was
there would be no advance in prices on tie part OF
the companies HousehOlders who use largo
amounts of coal IN the habit of laying III their
winter supply IN the summer or early faii. Inc
large apartment houses whcn supply their tenants:
the hotels aud other large consumers are not IN
want Of coal and the yards of retailers generally
are believed 20 be fairly well nj ed Some imp0r-
tant industries have no storage for large amounts
of coal and more OF less dependent on the com
panies but there is no likelihood that these inter-
ests will be permitted TO suffer any serious incon-
yenience from the strike.
Colonel LIE Grand b. Cannon who is acting as
president of the Delaware aud Hudson Canal Com
pany during the illness OF President X. W. Oyphant,
said yesterday
All this talk about the scarcity Of coal pure nonsense
There enough and there Is not the slightest reason
for anticipating famine oranything lket Ihls company
at least moving coal as fast possible ana mas all the
at the Office but there will he no great delay II any
coal. think can supply hun win all he wants
There will be advance In price oy this company anu
more than that We will permit our commission men
to advance their prices In our oplnon soai seh'ns
high enough under all the conditions OF the trade
Our men left US without word OF notice or OF com.
plaint We do not yet know why they struck ioDe
beyond the fact they ordered out by some UNION
or other. IL Is shame that workmen should DC tho
settinp excellent wages for unskilled labor and
pity poor fellows who are now out OF job our men men
eft our service and had nothing "a do except 70 ro
new ones We have had no difficulty In getting ali mo
wanted.
The president of another prominent coal COM
pany expressed similar views. lie said III adcitioh'
Three fourths OF our men are anxious TO go oacK I'd
work the old prices, but are restrained py ne
intend 10 give them few days In wncn 10 reeohsiuSr
shall take the reins into my own hands again, There
will be advance In the price OF coal Dy any Oh te
ipoa for all Of us We have been enabled by strike to
distribute coal local points In the East anu the wese
what ahead OF the wants OF the trade perhaps uue
we nreerred 70 do that rather than let the strike here
parayze our entire business.
1 he elevated railroads draw their supply OF coal
from the Lehigh Valley karoaGI asaasr oaS az sad
vsstsrday that coal was still being delivered daily
At Pier No. 1. North River, and at sixty-sev
ar There was enough coal on hand 10 last INTO
E.hruaTv n not longer The only danger OF q coal
famine seemed to be In the threatened s.oPpato Va
Snme BrooYlyn dealers with limited supply OF
coal Yesterday advanced the price to ~ and "
ton.
FEARS OF A COAL FAMINE IN NEw-ENGLANp
PsovrpExcE Jan. 10 Spee,a -Thc strike OF the coal
threatens have serious consequences for tns
city, Til, visible supply 10 NOT sufficient 10 'ase
moro than two weeks aud already the Price has advaucsa
IA csnts ton Tue manufacturers are IN bad shap"
a n,.nv a, than ars trying to puy AMI are re-
rnsrd II the strike continues much longer "nc oi .uo
mills will have to Suspend operations no stuanon
out tue state sniar TO tnls ana the Ians
aid to extend thTouxh New England
NEW. BEDFORD, Mass, Jan. lO-Coai advanced oo
cant, on all grades hero today. The supply 10 snort
,sprcial, Of tie Kud which manufactures uss tom.
plants nave been ado from Fall RIVER taunton an.